2020 has brought not only COVID-19 upon us but there was also an impressive increase in the number of concealed handgun permits issued in the United States. To put things into perspective, in 2020 there were 19.48 million permits across the US. That’s an impressive 34% boost compared to 2016. While there’s no clear evidence that the spike in new permits is related to COVID, all those new firearms certainly require appropriate accessories.
And besides the extras you’ll get for proper maintenance and storage, you definitely need a top-quality holster to be able to carry the gun on you. The belly band concealed carry holster sets itself apart from other models by providing a comfortable, discrete, and functional way to keep your pistol with you when out in the open.
If you already got your concealed handgun permit, you’ve probably gone over some holster options by now. Therefore, you already know how many options are available out there. We can’t stress enough how important it is to know what to look at when buying the perfect belly band holster for concealed carry. Even if you’ve never shopped for such a holster before, we’ve put together an exhaustive article with all the information needed to make the best choice for the pistol type you own.
Without further ado, let’s take a closer look at probably the most comfortable concealed carry holster.
Top 10 Best Concealed Carry Belly Bands: Comparison Table
| Brand | Material | Max Size |
| ComfortTac | Neoprene | For belly uo to 54” |
| Ghost Concealment | n/a | For belly uo to 54” |
| BRAVOBELT | Neoprene | For belly uo to 54” |
| ComfortTac (Deep Concealment Edition) | Neoprene | For belly uo to 54” |
| ProCase | Neoprene | For belly uo to 45” |
| Aomago | Neoprene | For belly uo to 50” |
| Kosibate | Polyester | For belly uo to 40” |
What Is a Concealed Carry Belly Band?
As you can guess from the name, the belly band holster consists of a generally stretchy material band that you can comfortably wear around your midsection. Most of the time, they are made of elastane or another highly flexible material, and their purpose is to fit perfectly against your body.
Of course, the main advantage of a concealed carry belly band is that it allows you to carry the weapon without anyone seeing it. These bands are amazing because it’s almost impossible to spot the firearm, as it fits snugly under your clothing. However, keep in mind the rules for having a belly band holster are different for every state. Thus it’s very important to first check the concealed carry regulations to make sure you comply with the various legislation on this topic. For example, if your permit is issued in Texas, you won’t be able to carry your concealed gun in Illinois, Minnesota, New York, or Washington. The same permit will enable you to take carry the gun with some restrictions in other states such as Arizona, Kansas, or neighboring Oklahoma. Also, if if you just got your first permit, it won’t heart checking the concealed carry general info for the United States to refresh the info received during the process of getting the permit.
Who are Concealed Belly Band Holsters For?
A concealed carry belly band holster is perfect for anyone that needs to hide their weapon. Safety is always important, and there are times when you have nowhere to attach your gun: for example when wearing leggings or shorts. These are also great when you can’t wear a belt to hold the weapon: working out, hiking e.t.c.
Other than that, all the best concealed carry holsters belly bands are highly versatile and can fit people of all sizes. They are also a great option for women because their clothing doesn’t normally allow for proper concealment. Belly bands will fit great under a dress or shirt and they won’t dig into any other body parts like the traditional holsters. Another area where women tend to conceal their Ruger SR9 is the ankle holster. Another thing we’ve noticed while creating our concealed carry belly band reviews is that compared to ankle ones, the belly holster has the great advantage of allowing you to draw much faster given the reduced distance.
Can a Fat Guy Make Use of a Belly Band Holster?
As we mentioned earlier, the best concealed carry holsters belly bands are very versatile, So yes, you can wear them if you’re on a heavier side. So if you’re rocking a dad bod, there won’t be any issues with making a belly band holster fit.
However, do keep in mind that you will need to make sure that you purchase the correct model, and we suggest the Ghost Concealment Belly Band from personal experience. This model fits up to a 54” belly and offers several carry options.
Advantages of Using the Belly Band Holster
- Concealment: The belly band holster is perfect when you are carrying a gun or revolver. The weapon won’t wiggle around, and drawing it will be a lot easier and faster.
- Weapon protection: The position in which the gun is kept ensures that your weapon will remain safe and secured.
- Comfort: The most comfortable concealed carry holster is made of lightweight and soft materials, so you won’t even feel like you’re wearing something. It also keeps the gun in one place, so it won’t bump or rub against your body.
Downsides of Using a Concealed Carry Belly Band
- Slower draw: At first you can expect a slower draw when compared to IWB or OWB holsters. This is mainly because you will have to move your shirt or jacket. However, after some practice, the drawing will be a lot faster and seamless.
- Liquid absorption: The belly band holster tends to absorb liquid, and that means your sweat. And the snug fit will inevitably generate heat and sweat, especially if you need to keep moving. Thus, you will have to maintain the holster a lot more thoroughly, or you could also end up rusting your piston and the acidity of your sweat might cause discoloration on the firearm.
What to Look for in Concealed Carry Belly Bands?
Size
- Circumference: These are your belly’s measurements. You can either wear concealed belly bands right underneath your chest or right above your hips. Thus, we suggest measuring around the belly button for the best results.
- Width: We suggest you aim for a belly band that is as thin as possible. This will allow you to carry your holster higher up your stomach and you’ll also avoid overheating where the band touches the skin.
- Thickness: This is a trade-off between comfort and support strength. Thin neoprene material delivers plenty of comforts but may lack support. On the other hand, thicker materials will better secure your holster. Also, keep in mind that a thicker belly band will keep your gun from moving around but the concealment factor might suffer.
Weapon Compatibility
Purchasing a comfortable and well-ventilated best belly band holster should be the top priority but you also need to make sure that your current weapon will fit correctly. Versatile holsters can easily fit pistols like Glock, Ruger, Beretta, or Taurus just to name a few. Compact, subcompact, and full-size pistols or revolvers will fit on most CCW belly band holsters. So make sure to double-check the manufacturer measurements and compare them to your own firearm’s specifications before choosing.
Number of Pockets
Always make sure that you choose a belly band gun holster that has enough pockets for you. But also don’t choose the option with too many pockets, if you don’t really need them. Having more than you need will make you look very bulky and even uncomfortable.
And since the main purpose of the belly band is to ensure that the weapon is fully concealed, having a lot of useless pockets that are very visible under your shirt would do a poor job on the whole “concealing” part. Thus, we recommend a belly band holster for women with the holster itself and one pocket for your magazine.
Another thing we’ve noticed while creating our concealed carry belly band reviews is that it’s also a good idea to have an extra pocket for storing your phone if needed. You could also consider a pocket to store a knife or a pepper spray bottle, but that could be somewhat uncomfortable, especially if you wear the belly band holster while jogging or exercising.
How to Properly Wear Your Belly Band Holster?
We’ve also done some testing of our own, and we can certainly say that the most comfortable concealed carry holster location is directly around the waist, right above the hips. This can be highly preferential, but the elastic nature of the materials will allow you to adjust the position however you need. We’ve also noticed that most women prefer to wear their women’s concealed carry belly band closer to their hips while men prefer to have it higher up right under their ribcage.
It’s also crucial that you wear your belly band holster in a position that allows you to draw weapons a lot faster. It’s usually best to go with 2 o’clock and 4 o’clock positions since they make pulling your gun a lot easier. However, positioning the CCW belly band right above the hips is also a good choice.
Quick Guide Summary
And that’s about it! All and all, where other holsters might fail the belly band holster will not disappoint. However, it’s all about getting the width, thickness, and material right, so you get only the best. And we sincerely hope that our research helped you learn all about how to choose the best concealed belly band 2023! will ensure that your weapon will be readily available when needed.
So, have you ever used a belly band holster for concealed carry? What’s your experience with concealed belly holsters so far?